Apricot tree, &#39;h 1995 cv&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of apricot tree is disclosed and which is mature for harvesting and shipment under the ecological conditions prevailing in Eastern Washington, about July 18 th .

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of apricot tree, (prunus armeniaca L) and which has been denominated varietally as ‘H 1995 cv’ hereinafter, and more specifically to a new apricot tree which is characterized as to novelty by bearing large red-blushed apricots having good shelf life, and which are ripe for harvesting and shipment under the ecological conditions prevailing in Eastern Washington on or about July 18^(th).

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

The present variety of apricot tree was discovered by me as a chance seedling growing in a cultivated area of my property which is located in Earnscleough, Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand in 1988. The chance seedling was an open pollinated seedling of the “Perfection” apricot tree (unpatented) and which was growing in an orchard of “Sundrop” apricot trees (not patented). This chance seedling was subsequently transplanted to a trial row on the same property where it first produced fruit which could be observed during January of 1994. During the 1995 growing season, continued evaluations of the chance seedling confirmed that the chance seedling produced noteworthy fruit having a larger size, and a more attractive skin color, and which further had good storage qualities. After the 1995 growing season, budwood from the original tree was submitted to the quarantine facility, IR-2, at Prosser, Wash. for further testing to determine the presence of any viruses. Virus certified-free material was released in 1997, and test trees were budded into a test plot which is currently located near Ephrata, Wash. in 1999. Second generation trees have been grafted onto “Manchurian” rootstock (not patented). These subsequent progeny have proven to be true to the original chance seedling in all respects.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new variety of apricot tree is characterized as to novelty, and is otherwise deemed noteworthy by producing large, attractively colored fruit, which are ripe for harvesting and shipment under the ecological conditions prevailing in Ephrata, Washington on July 18^(th). This date of maturity is similar to that of the “Goldrich” apricot tree (not patented) and about two weeks after the “Perfection” apricot tree (not patented), at the same geographical location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are color photographs of various aspects of the present plant. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in color representations of this type. Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the leaves and fruit of the present tree may, or may not be, accurate when compared to the actual specimen. For this reason, future color references should be made to the color plates as provided by the Munsell Book of Color, and the other general color descriptions as provided for hereinafter.

FIG. 1 shows the growing habit of three year old, second generation trees growing at a test orchard near Ephrata, Washington on Jul. 18, 2003.

FIG. 2 is a photograph which shows one of the fruit produced by the present variety of apricot tree next to that produced by the “Perfection” apricot tree.

FIG. 3 shows the dorsal and ventral surfaces of both mature (top) and immature leaves, (bottom) of the new variety of apricot tree.

FIG. 4 shows several fruit of the present variety and which are individually divided in the transverse and longitudinal planes and further showing the stone thereof.

FIG. 5 depicts the fruit of the present variety of apricot tree as would be seen in a mature shipping ripe condition.

FIG. 6 shows the bark characteristics of two year old wood.

FIG. 7 shows the blossom characteristics of the present variety of apricot tree in full bloom and as seen on Apr. 3, 2003 at the test orchard which is located near Ephrata, Wash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of apricot tree, the following has been observed during the 2003 growing season under the ecological conditions prevailing in a test orchard which is located near Ephrata, Wash. All major color code designations are by reference to the Munsell Book of Color. Common color names are also used occasionally.

Tree

-   -   -   Tree size.—Considered typical for the variety. Second             generation trees in their fifth leaf (5 years in the field)             have a height of about 3 to about 4 meters; and a width of             about 2 to about 3.5 meters.         -   Productivity.—Considered average. About 3 to about 4             kilograms per tree were harvested in the fourth leaf.         -   Vigor.—Considered vigorous. The present variety shows about             1 to about 1.5 meters of annual growth on fifth leaf trees             which have been grafted onto “Manchurian” (unpatented)             rootstock.         -   Growing habit.—Considered spreading.         -   Chilling requirement.—Average for the variety. This is based             upon observations of the growth of the new variety as seen             in New Zealand; and in the state of Washington. Actual             chilling requirements have not been determined. The chilling             requirement does not appear to be distinctive of the present             variety.         -   Regularity of bearing.—Considered regular and uniform.

Trunk

-   -   -   Size.—Considered average for this variety. The present tree             was about 5 cm. in diameter when measured at a distance of             about 0.3 meters from the surface of the ground.         -   Bark color.—Brown (5 YR 5/4).         -   Lenticels.—Color — Light tan (7.5 YR 8/2).         -   Lenticels.—Density — About 3 lenticels per square cm may be             found.         -   Lenticels.—Size — Elongated and having a length dimension of             about 3 mm. and a width dimension of about 1 mm.

Branches

-   -   -   Growth habit.—Vigorous, and spreading, which is typical for             most apricot trees.         -   Bark color.—Immature Branches — Green (2.5 GY 4/6), and             occasionally purple (7.5 R 3/6) with increasing senescence.             As immature wood becomes more mature, the bark color turns             to brown (7.5 YR 4/4).         -   Pubescence.—Not observed.         -   Bark lenticels.—Numbers — Average, on one year or older             wood, approximately 8 lenticels may be found per square cm.             (FIG. 6).         -   Bark lenticels.—Size — Small, and round and having a             diameter of less than about 0.5 mm.         -   Lenticels.—Color — Tan (10 YR 7/4).         -   Internodes.—Length — About 1.5 to about 2 cm. when measured             on vigorous current season shoots.

Leaves

-   -   -   Leaf size.—Generally — Considered medium to large for the             species. Mature leaves have a length dimension of about 4.5             to about 7.4 cm; and a width of about 5.0 to about 8.0 cm.         -   Leaf form.—Considered to be a typical apricot leaf shape,             and having an acuminate tip, and a straight base, which may             on occasion also appear slightly indented. The leaf blade is             normally bent.         -   Mature leaf color.— Dorsal Surface — light green (5 GY 7/6).             Mature Leaf Color — Ventral Surface — a grey-green (5 GY             7/4). Mature Leaf Color — Mid vein — Typically considered             reddish purple (5 GY 8/4), and occasionally tinged with             purple coloration (2.5 R 3/10). Immature Leaf Color. — These             leaves typically have a pinkish purple color which fades to             green with increasing senescence. This color is not             distinctive of the variety, however.         -   Marginal form.—Considered finely crenate. Approximately 8             serrations may be found per cm. The leaf margin is often             wavy in appearance.         -   Mid-vein thickness.—About 1 mm. when measured at the base.             The mid- vein tapers as it proceeds toward the tip of the             leaf.         -   Leaf glandular characteristics.—Approximately 2 to about 5             round glands are found per petiole. These glands are             typically located singly or occasionally in pairs along the             dorsal surface of the petiole.         -   Leaf glands.—Color — Typically purple (5 R 3/6).         -   Stipules.—Not present.         -   Leaf petiole.—Size — Considered average for the variety,             approximately 1 to about 2 mm. in diameter; and further             having a length dimension of about 3 to about 4 cm.         -   Leaf petiole.—Color — Considered reddish purple (2.5 R             3/10).

Flower

-   -   -   Time of bloom.—Date of full bloom was observed on 22 Mar.             2003 under the prevailing ecological conditions existing             near Ephrata, Washington. First Bloom was observed on 17             Mar. 2003. Petal fall was observed on 28 Mar. 2003.         -   Dormant flower buds.—Size — In the dormant state, the flower             buds are about 1.5 mm in width, and about 3.5 mm. in length.         -   Dormant flower buds.—Surface Texture — Considered globose.             Dormant Flower buds.—Color — In the dormant condition the             flower buds have a brown color (2.5 YR 2/4). In the popcorn             stage, the flower buds have a light pink color (2.5 R 9/2).         -   Size of flower.—In a fully opened state the flower is about             20 to 30 mm. in diameter at full bloom. This is best seen by             reference to FIG. 7.         -   Flower Petals.— Length — About 15 mm. Flower Petals — Width             — About 20 mm. Flower Petals — Color — Light pink at the             popcorn stage (2.5 R 9/2), and white when fully opened, this             is seen in FIG. 7.         -   Sepals.—Color — Bright red (5 R 4/14).         -   Stamens.—Numbers — About 14 to about 20 stamens will be             found per flower.         -   Filaments.—Numbers — Approximately 25 are found per flower.             Filaments — Length — About 10 mm.         -   Anthers.—Color — Yellow (5 Y 5/12).         -   Pistil.—Length — About 15 mm.         -   Stigma.—Length — About 1.7 mm.

Fruit

-   -   -   Maturity when described.—Generally, the fruit produced by             the present variety of apricot tree is described as it will             be found at full commercial maturity. In this regard, the             fruit of the present variety was ripe for harvesting and             shipment under the ecological conditions prevailing near             Ephrata, Wash. on Jul. 18, 2003. The harvesting date is             considered to be similar to that of the “Goldrich” apricot             variety (unpatented); and about 2 weeks after the             “Perfection” apricot variety (unpatented) growing at the             same geographical location.         -   Fruit size.—Considered large for the species. The average             weight of the fruit which was harvested in the 2003 was             about 88 grams.         -   Fruit dimensions.—Length about 60 mm; width about 55 mm; and             thickness of about 47 mm.         -   Fruit form.—Round, and considered oblong. The fruit form is             similar to that produced by the “Perfection” apricot tree.             The fruit is otherwise considered to be symmetrical.         -   Suture.—Generally — Considered shallow and about 1 to 2 mm.             deep.         -   Stem cavity.—Depth — About 6 mm.         -   Stem cavity.—Width — About 16 mm.         -   Skin.—Thickness — Considered thin and tender.         -   Skin.—Texture — Smooth and occasionally slightly bumpy.         -   Skin blush color.—The present variety has a distinctive             pinkish blush (5 R 5/13). This blush may be found on a             majority of the fruit, and covers approximately 20 to about             50% of the fruit surface. This is in contrast to the fruit             produced by the “Perfection” apricot tree as seen in FIG. 2.             This blush is further seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.         -   Ground color.—Yellow-orange (2.5 Y 8.5/12).         -   Tendency to crack.—Not observed.         -   Flesh color.—Orange (7.5 YR 7/12).         -   Juice production.—Considered moderately juicy. Sugar levels             are measured at about 13 to about 15 degrees brix. This             characteristic appears to be superior to the fruit produced             by the “Perfection” apricot tree growing at the same             geographical location.         -   Aroma.—Variable, none to mild.         -   Flesh texture.—Melting, and although occasionally, it may             appear slightly crunchy, depending upon the degree of             ripeness.         -   Fibers.—Generally — None noted.         -   Ripening characteristics.—Considered uniform.         -   Eating quality.—Considered very good and superior to the             fruit produced by the “Perfection” apricot tree.

Stone

-   -   -   Attachment.—Considered freestone. The stone may appear             attached slightly at the base and slightly along the ridges             thereof.         -   Stone size.—Considered medium, and similar to the stone as             found in the fruit produced by the “Perfection” apricot             tree.         -   Stone length.—About 30 mm.         -   Stone width.—About 25 mm.         -   Stone thickness.—About 15 mm.         -   Stone form.—Ovoid.         -   Base shape.—Acute.         -   Apex shape.—Blunt, and occasionally rounded.         -   Stone side-shape.—Considered equal.         -   Stone surface texture.—Medium to smooth.         -   Surface color.—Brown (7.5 YK 5/8).         -   Pit color.—Light tan (7.5 YR 7/6).         -   Pit-form.—Plump, and having a bitter, almond flavor, and             hard shell.         -   Intended use.—The present variety produces fruit which             appears to be useful for the commercial market.         -   Disease and insect resistance.—No susceptibilities were             noted.         -   Keeping quality.—Considered good, the present variety has             been kept in cold storage for as long as 2 weeks.

Although the new variety of apricot tree possesses the described characteristics noted above when grown in Ephrata, Wash., it is to be understood that variations in the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to growing conditions, fertilization, pruning and pest control are to be expected. 

1. A new and distinct variety of apricot tree substantially as illustrated and described and which matures for harvesting and shipment about July 18^(th) under the ecological conditions prevailing in Eastern Washington, and which further has an attractive orange skin color, with a distinctive blush. 